Fiers keeps pace with rotation competition

TAMPA, Fla. -- With veterans Scott Feldman and Doug Fister having each thrown two scoreless innings in their Grapefruit League debuts with the Astros in recent days, right-hander Mike Fiers took his first turn and matched his rotation competition with two scoreless frames in Monday's 1-0 win over the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Fiers, who's competing with Feldman and Fister for the final two spots in the rotation, threw 21 of his 32 pitches for strikes and allowed two hits and a walk.

TAMPA, Fla. -- With veterans Scott Feldman and Doug Fister having each thrown two scoreless innings in their Grapefruit League debuts with the Astros in recent days, right-hander Mike Fiers took his first turn and matched his rotation competition with two scoreless frames in Monday's 1-0 win over the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Fiers, who's competing with Feldman and Fister for the final two spots in the rotation, threw 21 of his 32 pitches for strikes and allowed two hits and a walk.

"It feels good to face another team, face some hitters in the box and just get after it and play against a different jersey instead of the live BPs and bullpens," Fister said. "I felt really good and it was just good to get back out there."

"As a pitcher, you want that," he said. "You want to pitch to their best, you want to see the swings and pitch off that. It was a good day overall and just another stepping stone."

Fiers, 30, went 7-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) combined last year with the Brewers and Astros, who acquired him and outfielder Carlos Gomez in a July trade. With the Astros, Fiers was 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 10 games (nine starts), including an Aug. 21 no-hitter against the Dodgers that showcased his electrifying stuff.

He doesn't have as much experience as Feldman and Fister, and Fiers appreciates their veteran leadership as opposed to considering himself in a battle with them.

"You can watch how they work and how they go about their business and their preparation going into games," he said. "Just with all those guys, even [Collin] McHugh and [Dallas] Keuchel and [Lance] McCullers, I love to watch all the starters and watch the bullpens when I can. To have those two veteran guys on our staff, it helps out that much more."